CEDAC is a bipartisan, secular and non-profit organisation established 2005, in Bujumbura, Republic of Burundi. CEDAC has been approved by the national government by Ministerial Order No. 530/1552 of 4 November 2000. The association is involved in the assistance and advocacy for veterans and victims of conflict.

Its objectives include: the rebuilding of a safer world without weapons; to improve the living conditions of the general population and in particular that of veterans; promoting the rights of ex-combatant women and youth who are victims of war; preventing the violation of human rights; and developing peace and human security for a sustainable future.

CEDAC was born in the post-civil war period, created to respond to the crisis. It has dedicated its efforts in the prevention of proliferation and the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons. The organisations role has been carried out through advocacy, evaluation and monitoring on the prevention of armed violence in Burundi. CEDAC has also developed partnerships with organisations both within Burundian civil society and international organisations. CEDAC supports a nationwide network for those affectd by conflict spanning all provinces and communes in Burundi. In this regard, there are provincial, municipal and communal committees across the country. Provincial Committees are composed of three persons with at least one woman, at municipal committees are composed of five people with at least two women while at the communal level there are only two individuals.

In the name of good governance for the initiatives of the Burundian State, CEDAC has signed a partnership agreement with the government via the Minister of National Solidarity, Repatriation, National Building, Human Rights and Gender. CEDAC also collaborates with the Ministry of Public Security under the parameters of the Permanent National Commission to Fight against the Proliferation of Small Arms (NCPI) and the Directorate General of Veterans Affairs. This collaboration is very important in the fight against the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons.

Briefly, CEDAC is working on two important points

· The reduction of armed violence through awareness campaigns, the collection of weapons and education campaigns for non-violence and conflict resolution

· Assistance to victims, both directly and non-directly involved in the conflict

To achieve these goals, CEDAC use works in the following areas

1. Psychosocial assistance to the victims of the civil war

2. Economic reintegration for ex-combatants and those affected by war

3. Social Reintegration programmes for the victims of the prolonged conflict that affected Burundi

The following processes are employed by CEDAC to achieve this

· Peer to peer mediation

· Training programmes and reskilling for employment and social reintegration

· Training on the prevention of gender based violence

· Training programmes for non-violent and conflict resolution and building good communication skills

CEDAC works with non-governmental organisation (NGOs) at the national and international level as well as agencies and programmes from the United Nations. Over the past five years, CEDAC has been involved with the following projects

· A rehabilitation and transit camp for refugees in Maramvya, Bujumbura at a cost of 20 million Burundian Francs (US$13,000). This project was supported by the UNDP (2011)

· Awareness projects in the fight against small arms at a cost of 10 million Burundian Francs (US$6,500). Again this project was supported by the UNDP

· Projects to promote the role of the female ex-combatants in peace-building with an amount of 32 million Burundian Francs (US$20,600). This programme was held in conjunction with UNIFEM in 2009

· A long standing and continual programme, established in 2005, for the voluntary surrender of weapons

· In 2012, a high intensity reconstruction programme was implemented in Rumonge, Bururi province to repair damaged infrastructure. The project also assisted in the reskilling and provided temporary employment for ex –combatants. A total cost of 30 million Burundian Francs (US$19,300)

· In 2012, an economic project helped 41 production organisations for the assistance of women associated with armed groups in Bubanza, Cibitoke and Bujumbura. The programme cost 123 million Burundian Francs (US$79,100)

· In July 2012, CEDAC worked with the UNDP on a project for the reconstruction of community services in Cibitoke province. The project cost 216.15 million Burundian Franc (US$139,000). The project involved the creation of temporary employment for demobilised combatants, refugees, internally displaced people and local communities from the Mugwi, Rugombo and Buganda. The project also assisted in the development of locally based production methods and organisations by developing sustainable income sources

· In November 2012 and again in the province of Cibitoke. The second phase for the reconstruction of community services took place, run in conjunction with the UNDP. The project cost 228.6 million Burundian Franc (US$147,000) and involved the creation of further temporary employment for directly affected by the civil war and local communities from Bukinanyana and Mabayi Mugina. The project was also accompanied by development for local production techniques and sustainable economic gains

· In October 2012, CEADC worked with Action On Armed Violence (AOAV) to assist in halting cross-border violence between Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The project gave assistance to victims of the conflict and was carried out in Buganda and Rugombo, Cibitoke provence, Burundi and Sange and Ruvunge villages in the DRC. The project cost 62.2 million Burundi Franc (US$40,000)

· From July through to December 2012, CEDAC in partnership with AOAV hosted a project psychosocial assistance for victims of conflict in Muramvya. The project cost 85 million Burundian Franc (US$54,600)

· In October 2012, with the assistance of AOAV, CEDAC ran a project for the establishment of an observer group to monitor violence from small arms and light weapons. The project cost 40.43 million Burundian Franc (US$26,000)

· With the support of American Friends Service Committee, CEDAC established a project for the socioeconomic reintegration for refugees, internally displaced persons and ex-combatants in three municipalities in the provinces of Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rural and Cibitoke.

CEDAC was awarded the Niarchos Prize in 2010 awarded by Starvos Niarchos Foundation of New York and selected third overall at the global level for the service rendered by organisations in the field of victims of war assistance and reconciliation.

CEDAC's vision is a peaceful and sustainably developed world. Some of the organisation's members have directly participated in armed conflict, while others have been victims of conflict through their indirect participation. CEDAC wants to interlink all victims of conflict within and across borders. Our vision seeks to eliminate conflict and sustain peace by creating means of reintegration for ex-combatants and others indirectly affected by conflict.

Our mission is to support all victims of armed conflict. We seek to reduce armed violence through job creation, as well as offering other types of victim assistance such as psychosocial support to facilitate reintegration into society.

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Victim Assistance

Our vision

CEDAC vision is a peaceful and sustainable developed world. Some of the organisation's members have directly participated in armed conflict, while others have been victims of conflict through their indirect participation. CEDAC wants to interlink all victims of conflict within and across borders. Our vision seeks to eliminate conflict and sustain peace by creating means of reintegration for ex-combatants and others indirectly affected by conflict.

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Our mission

Our mission is to support all victims of armed conflict. We seek to reduce armed violence through job creation, as well as offering other types of victim assistance such as psychosocial support to facilitate reintegration into society.

Our Staff

Ex-combatants

CEDAC runs initiatives to redress the lack of projects aimed at female ex-combatants. Read more

CEDAC values

At CEDAC, we hold our values of transparency, tolerance and honesty in the highest regard, because without these values we would not be able to survive as a not-for profit aid organisation. For example, without transparency our finical supporters, those involved in our projects and other stakeholders would not be able to hold us accountable. This in turn leads to an environment of mistrust.

It goes without saying that we uphold and value honesty at CEDAC. We believe that acting openly and honesty is not only good practice, but is essential for working in development and aid.

CEDAC is built also under a tolerance basis. This implies a high degree of acceptance for differences of races and ethnicity, background and diversity of ideas. Thus, CEDAC is an environment where contribution is reserved for everyone.

Founder biography

My name is Eric Niragira. I am a Burundian from Kiganda Commune in Muramvya Province. Readmore...